A Suitable Arrangement

Eighteen: Pansy's Trial

Hermione

The Ministry of Magic courtroom, with its cold, black marble floors, and even colder Wizengamot members in their blood red robes sitting high above the Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt, brought a chill down my spine that I did not like at all. Severus sat beside me, and held my hand. I laced my fingers through his.

"Are you alright?" He whispered in my ear. I looked around at the courtroom, and then at my husband.

I nodded my head. "Just...I have some bad memories of this place. First, grabbing the horcrux locket off of Umbridge's fat, toady neck, and escaping here after being nearly Kissed by dementors. Second, coming here to be denounced by these same people for my actions in the war. Third, having to help the aurors in putting former deatheaters in Azkaban. I don't like being here, but I will manage, I have to."

Severus nodded. "I know. I had to come here and sit in the prisoner's chair myself and be interrogated by these same self righteous pricks. But just remember, you were the victim here, not the accused. We will leave as soon as we can."

"Thank you, Severus."
Severus was about to say something else when Kingsley Shacklebolt himself filed in, wearing his black wizengamot robes.

The bailiff announced, "All rise for the Minister of Magic."

The court rose, and Kingsley said, "Be seated, everyone. Now, we are here to determine the guilt or innocence of Miss. Pansy Parkinson in regards to the attempted murder of Professor Hermione Prince, at her own wedding. Prosecutor, call your first witness."

The prosecutor, was Lucius Malfoy, of course, and he looked absolutely sharp and professional as always. He had his long blonde hair tied back with a black bow, and he looked up to the Wizengamot assembled in the bleachers above the Minister of Magic.

"I call to the stand Madame Prince," Lucius called.

I got up on shaky legs, and walked past him to the witness stand. Pansy Parkinson was then brought in by a team of aurors, and after struggling to get her shackled to the prisoner chair, she was gagged until it was time for her to make her statement.

I was sworn in, and Lucius fixed me with a friendly smile. "Madame Prince, it is good to see you on this sad occasion."

The defense attorney, a little ferret faced squib looking fellow with raggedy robes objected, "Objection! This is no time for Mr. Malfoy to have a friendly little chat with the plaintiff."

Kingsley sighed, "I will allow it. Do continue, Mr. Malfoy."

Lucius nodded. "Quite right, Minister. Now, Madame Prince, can you think of any possible reason Miss. Parkinson could want you dead?"

I fiddled with a ruffle on my dress and nodded. "I would call it a personal dislike because she is a pureblood, and I am a muggleborn witch only. But other than that, I can see no other reason. She robbed me of my honeymoon, and the rest of my wedding."

"And what reason did you go to see her?" Lucius asked.

"I saw her in a professional capacity," I answered. "I wanted her advice as to how to act in...well, the bedroom. The appointment went very well, very professional, except at the end where she expressed her jealousy over Draco Malfoy liking me in school, and she snarled at me to get out of her office immediately. I had no other contact with her, save for when she used a gun to try to kill me on my own wedding day."

"No further questions, Minister," Lucius said, sitting down at the councillor table, and began taking quick notes.

"Mr. Matthews," Kingsley said, turning to the court appointed defense attorney. "Your witness."

The ferret faced man strode up to me, smirking. "Isn't it true what my client said, and I quote, 'she is hot for teacher, and always has been?' "

"Excuse me, sir?"

"You heard me. Answer the question," The lawyer demanded.

I laughed. "Absurd. The marriage law paired me and my husband together during the selection process. I'm certain that this is well documented in the Marriage Registry office. Never once did I ever lead Professor Prince on, or entice him into a romantic affair when I was a student at Hogwarts. I admit that when I was sixteen, I harbored an affection for him, but teen girls have infatuations all of the time, and they often come to nothing."

"Ah, so those late night sessions of you two together were false? I'll have you know that the words of a mudblood--"

"MR. MATTHEWS!" Kingsley roared. He rang his gavel down on his pulpit. "I WILL TOLERATE NO RACIST REMARKS LIKE THAT IN THIS COURTROOM! ONE MORE STATEMENT LIKE THAT, AND I WILL HAVE YOU HELD IN CONTEMPT OF COURT!"

The ferret faced lawyer squealed like a pig under Kingsley's thunderous gaze. "A-Apologies, Minister. No more questions."

Kingsley rubbed at the bridge of his nose and sighed heavily. "Please call up your next witness, Mr. Malfoy."

"I call up Mr. Draco Malfoy," Lucius said. Draco walked to the pulpit where I just vacated, and was sworn in.

"Did you see Mrs. Prince's attacker, Mr. Malfoy?" Lucius asked.

Draco nodded. "I did. I was combing the area as Miss. Parkinson was trying to get as close to the bridal party as possible."

"And you were the one who tackled Miss. Parkinson to the ground?" Lucius asked.

"Yes. But I was too slow to prevent her from firing the shot that struck Madame Prince in the shoulder," Draco said, regret heavy in his tone of voice. "I wrestled with Miss. Parkinson and managed to stupefy her before she could do any more damage. The aurors on the scene arrested her then and there."

"No further questions, Minister," Lucius Malfoy said.

More witnesses for and against the prosecution came up to testify, and I listened, intrigued, that the Parkinson's could even find anyone willing to testify against me. But of course, I'm certain that they threw enough money at their 'witnesses,' to bribe them to say whatever they wanted, so long as Pansy got off scot free.

Kingsley then called a recess, and dismissed everyone until 9AM the next morning. Severus and I hosted dinner at Spinners End with the Malfoys, and it was a fun occasion all around. But what disturbed me the most was the faint possibility that Pansy Parkinson could be let off with a simple acquittal. Afterall, she didn't kill me, and I was a muggleborn witch. Why on Earth would the Wizengamot find in my favor? I was not optimistic about my chances.

"Lioness, you must not worry," Severus said, holding me in his arms after we made love. "Many of the Wizengamot are appalled by what happened at our wedding. She will go to Azkaban, I assure you."

I kissed his chest, and looked at my husband. "Can you, Severus? Can you reassure me of that, really? I don't think I can rest easy knowing that she is walking the streets free."

Severus kissed my lips chastely. "I know. But Hermione, I have a good feeling about the outcome. They plan on hearing Miss. Parkinson's testimony, and I can assure you that the veritaserum that the courts use is the strongest in existence."

I grinned, reassured now. "Ah. You brew it for them."

Severus chuckled. "Oh yes, on a daily basis, and I am paid handsomely for it as well. Rest assured, she is not immune to its effects. She will confess the truth."

"I hope you're right," I yawned. We both fell asleep then, and we were up bright and early the next day to go to the Ministry of Magic to see what Pansy Parkinson's fate would be, good or bad...